Grate-operating mechanism.



f No. 884.174. PATENTED 00T. 23, 1906.

W. THOW 6a W. H. NISBET. GRATE yOPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB.2.1906.

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UNITED sTATEs `PATENT oEEIGE.

WILLIAM THOW AND WILLIAM HOLMES NISBET, OF RANDWICK, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

GRATE-oPr-:RATING MEcHANlsM. l

v No. 834,174.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

. Original application led March 13, 1905, Serial No. 249,93 9. Divided and this application iled April 2, 1906. Serial No. 309,3 9 7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM THoW, residing at Ascot, Dutruc street, Randwick, near Sydney, and WILLIAM HOLMES N IsBET,

, residing at Mutual Life of New York Buildings, Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, subjects of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to improved means for automatically imparting a rocking, shaking, tilting, or vibrating motion to the firebars of locomotive-furnaces independent of the Stoker or flreman, such operation of the bars being obtained by an actuating mechanism operated by a part or element of the vehicle, which has a movement independent of, but relative to, the other parts of the vehicle,

' said movement being due to the motion or travel of thel vehicle.

The invention insures great economy of fuell through the more effective removal of ash and breaking up of clinker and the consequent more constant and regular steaming of the boiler, thus saving the time frequently occupied at stations in cleaning iires when movable fire-bars are not used. The comparatively gentle motion automatically imparted, to the fire-bars avoids the violent shaking up of the Iire and consequent loss of good fuel, as when hand-rocking v.arrangements or pricking-bars are employed. The invention, furthermore, has the advantage of enabling the fire-bars to be spaced more closely together.

According to our invention we obtain the vnecessary power from one or more of the axle-boxes or compensating beams or springs or connections thereto at one or both sides of the engine through a series of levers or levers and links, so thatwhen the locomotive is running a vibrating and intermittent motion is a side elevation illustrating our invention forv operating the {ire-bars from one of the axleboxes. Fig. 2 is a half plan of the same, the iire-bars being removed for the sake of clearness, while Fig. 3 is a half end elevation of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing our invention as operated from one of the compensating beams. Fig. 5 is a half plan with the nre-bars removed. Fig. 6 is a section through the line A B, Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modification whereby a number of the Jrire-bars4 are raised as the remainder are lowered.

The same numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the figures.

l Referring to Figs. l to 3, lis the axle of a locomotive, and 2 the axle-box thereof.

The actuating mechanism for the fire-bars 7v comprises an elongated le'ver 3, which rests on or is in contact with the upper face of said axle-box and which is fulcrumed on a short shaft 4, suitably supported by a bracket. On the shaft 4 is also fulcrumed the short lever 5, upon which rest the bearers 6, carrying one end of each of the fire-bars 7. 8 and 9 are the ends of the fire-box.'y

If it is desired to disengage the lever 3 from the axle-box, a hand-operated rod 10, a bell-crank 11, fulcrumed on a convenient part of the framing, and slotted link 12 are provided, as clearly shown in Fig. A1. To stop the rocking of the bars, the rod 10 is operated to raise through lever 11, link 12, and pin 13 the lever 3 from contact with the axle-box. It is evident that while the engine is running a vibrating and intermittent motion is automatically transmitted from the axlebox through lever 3, shaft 4, and lever 5 to the fire-bars or their bearers, which is quite sufficient to break up any clinker which may have formed inthe furnace and by keeping the air-spaces open thereby promote free combustion of the fuel.

In Figs. 4 to 6 the lever 3 is in contact with the upper face 0f the compensating beam 14 from which motion is given to the fire-bars 7 or to the bearers 6 supporting them through the shaft 4 and lever 5, as before. If desired, the hand-lever 10 may be operated to raise the lever 3 from the beam through the arm l l as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7 the beam 14 transmits motion through the loo link 15 to the lever 16,ulcrumed on the shaft 42a, on which also is a rocking lever 17, one arm 18 of which operates the bearer 19, carrying one set of iire-bars, while the other arm 2O operates the bearer 21, carrying another set of nre-bars. By this form of the invention a number of the bars are raised at the same time as the remaining bars are lowered.'

We do not restrict ourselves to the precise arrangements illustrated, as it is evident that the necessary movement could be obtained from the axle-box or compensating beam through the medium of springs or other connections thereto.

' The subject-matter of this application is a division of application filed March 13, 1905, Serial No. 249,939.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

1. In a motor-vehicle provided with a iireboX, movable grate-bars therein, actuating mechanism for said bars, said mechanism adapted to be operated by a part or element of the vehicle having a movement independent oi", but relative to, the other parts of said vehicle, said movement being due to the motion or travel of the vehicle.

2. In a motor-vehicle provided with a iirebox, movable grate-bars therein, actuating mechanism for said bars, said mechanism ada ted to be operated by a part or element of tlie vehicle having a movement independent of, but relative to the other parts of said vehicle, said movement being due to the motion or travel of the vehicle, and means for shifting the actuating mechanism out of operative connection with the said part or element.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM TI-IOW. WILLIAM HOLMES NISBET.

Witnesses:

CHARLES EDWARD GRAHAM, WILLIAM REFORM' CLELANO FoRsTER. 

